1.6 Services

Services provided by the port (I_14)

The services provided within the port sector are governed by the provisions of the current Royal Decree 2/2011 of 5 September, which approves the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy (TRLPEMM), within the framework of free and fair competition between operators, as established by that Law. They are classified as follows:

I. General services
II. Port services
III. Commercial services
IV. Maritime signalling service

I. General Services

These are the standard services available to port users without the need for a specific request, as well as those necessary for the Port Authority to carry out its core functions. Huelva Port Authority provides the following general services:

• The service for the management, coordination and control of port traffic, both maritime and land-based.
• The service for the coordination and control of operations associated with port services, commercial activities and other operations.
• Signalling, beaconing and other navigational aids to assist vessels in approaching and entering the port, as well as internal beaconing.
• Police services in public areas, without prejudice to the powers of other authorities.
• The provision of lighting in public areas.
• The routine cleaning service of common areas on land and in the water. This service does not include the cleaning of quays and foreshores resulting from the storage and handling of goods, nor the cleaning of marine spills and discharges.
• Emergency prevention and control services, in accordance with the provisions of civil protection regulations, in collaboration with the competent authorities for civil protection, fire prevention and firefighting, rescue and pollution control.
• Basic access service to railway infrastructure and basic access referred to in Article 46 of Law 38/2015 of 29 September on the railway sector, or the minimum access package referred to in Annex II of DIRECTIVE 2012/34/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area

In general, the Port Authority is responsible for providing general services, without prejudice to the possibility of entrusting their management to third parties where this does not jeopardise safety or involve the exercise of authority.

Since 31 March 2015, successive service contracts have been signed between Huelva Port Authority and the Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (SASEMAR) for the provision of the general service of management, coordination and control of port maritime traffic. This contract, which stems from the Framework Collaboration Agreement between the Maritime Safety and Rescue Society and the State Ports Agency, signed in March 2014, regulates the corresponding service levels.

To ensure the continuity of service provision, Huelva Port Authority and SASEMAR signed a new contract on 31 March 2021, renewable annually for a maximum of two years. On 3 April 2023, the latest contract was signed to guarantee the provision of the aforementioned services for a period of four years, renewable annually, with a maximum of two extensions. In addition, an Addendum was signed for the provision of additional services not included in the general contract, effective from 1 January 2024 for a period of 39 months, plus an additional 24-month extension, bringing it into line with the total duration of the contract.

II. Port Services

Port services are the activities necessary for the operation of ports, aimed at enabling the performance of operations associated with maritime traffic, under conditions of safety, efficiency, regularity, continuity and non-discrimination, and which are carried out within the territorial jurisdiction of the Port Authorities.

These activities, which are increasingly diverse and complex, must be carried out by the private sector under a system of free competition, subject to the established legal exceptions, ensuring, in all cases, that the applicant complies with the conditions and requirements set out in the TRLPEMM.

The provision of port services requires the relevant licence to be obtained from the Port Authority. This licence may only be granted following approval of the relevant Regulatory Specifications and Specific Requirements for the service in question.

In this regard, port services include: technical-nautical services (pilotage, port towage, and mooring and unmooring), passenger services, the reception of waste generated by ships, and cargo handling services.

Notwithstanding the above, on 15 February 2017, Regulation (EU) 2017/352 of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted, which established a new common regulatory framework for the provision of port services and on the financial transparency of European ports, and which includes the supply of fuel to ships and the reception of cargo waste as port services. Although all EU Regulations are legal acts defined by Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which have general application, are binding in their entirety and directly applicable in all EU countries, Puertos del Estado is currently drafting a legal provision to transpose this Regulation into national law. From this point onwards, the procedure laid down in the Act must be followed to grant the relevant service licences, including, amongst other things, the approval of the specific tender specifications.

Until this is completed, in accordance with current legislation, the situation regarding Port Services at the Port of Huelva is as follows:

Pilotage service

On 19 December 2024, the Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority agreed to approve the Specific Terms of Reference for the port pilotage service at the Port of Huelva, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 19 February 2025. Similarly, on 19 December 2024, the Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority agreed to approve the Terms of Reference for the public tender for the award of the licence to provide the port pilotage service at the Port of Huelva, published in the Official State Gazette on 4 March 2025.

Following the relevant process, the Management proposed to the Presidency that the following resolution be submitted to the Board of Directors:

1. To grant a licence for the provision of the Port Pilotage Service in the Port of Huelva to the Corporación de Prácticos del Puerto y Ría de Huelva, S.L., dated 18 September 2025, for a period of ten (10) years, subject to the conditions and requirements set out in the Specific Specifications approved at the Board of Directors’ meeting of 19 December 2024 and in the Tender Terms and Conditions approved on 19 December 2024.
2. To publish this award agreement in the Official State Gazette, as stipulated in Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011 of 5 September, approving the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy (published in the Official State Gazette on 13 October 2025).

Mooring and unmooring service

The Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority, at its meeting on 19 December 2024, approved the Specific Specifications for the Provision of the Port Service for the Mooring and Unmooring of Vessels in the Port of Huelva, as well as its publication in the Official State Gazette, which finally took place on 19 February 2025.

The Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority, at its meeting on 18 September 2025, having considered the Report and Proposal drawn up by the Management and submitted by the Chair for the Board’s consideration, unanimously adopted the following resolution:

1. To grant a licence to the company Amasur, S.L. for the provision of the port service of mooring and unmooring vessels in the Port of Huelva, for a period of six (6) years, subject to the conditions and requirements set out in the Specific Terms and Conditions for the Port Mooring and Unmooring Service, approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 19 December 2024, which include, amongst others, those described in Article 117 of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, which are summarised in the Annex to this Agreement.
2. To retain Amasur, S.L., registered under No. A001-AMASUR, on the register of companies providing port mooring and unmooring services for vessels in the Port of Huelva.
3. To publish this grant agreement in the Official State Gazette, in accordance with the provisions of Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011 of 5 September, approving the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy.

Finally, the licence in favour of Amasur was published in the Official State Gazette on 13 October 2025.

Towing service

The Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority, at its meeting on 6 March 2025, approved the Specific Specifications for the Provision of Port Towing Services in the Port of Huelva, as well as their publication in the Official State Gazette, which finally took place on 16 April 2025.

At a meeting held on 13 November 2025, the Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority approved the granting of the licence for the provision of port vessel towing services in the Port of Huelva to the company Auxiliar Marítima del Sur, S.A. for a period of ten (10) years, subject to the conditions set out in the licence and in the Specific Terms and Conditions for that service.

Finally, the licence in favour of Auxiliar Marítima del Sur, S.A. was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 2 December 2025.

Ship-generated waste reception service

During 2025, work was carried out on drafting new Specific Specifications that include the reception of ship cargo waste within the service.

After considering the Report-Proposal drafted by the Management, and submitted by the Presidency for the Board’s consideration, setting out the proceedings carried out in the relevant administrative file, to which this Agreement refers with regard to its grounds, in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, which attests, amongst other matters, the actions of the Port Services Committee of the Port of Huelva in relation to the proposal for the Specific Specifications for the Reception of Ship-generated Waste and Cargo Residues, as well as the outcome of the corresponding public hearing and the issuance of the mandatory favourable report by the State Ports Public Body dated 17 November 2025, in accordance with the provisions of Article 113 of the aforementioned Consolidated Text, concerning Specific Specifications for port services, and considering the procedure followed to be sufficiently correct, the Board of Directors of Huelva Port Authority, at its meeting on 18 December 2025, unanimously adopts the following resolution:

1. To approve the Specific Specifications for the Provision of the Port Service for the Reception of Ship-generated Waste and Cargo Residues at the Port of Huelva, at the meeting held on 18 December 2025.
2. Publication in the Official State Gazette of the aforementioned Specific Specifications and the resolution approving them, in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, on 18 February 2026.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of this Port Authority, at its meetings held on 30 June 2025 and 13 November 2025, extended the licences for port waste reception services under MARPOL Annex V (solid waste) and MARPOL Annex I (oily liquids), respectively, following the expiry of the terms of the licences previously in force, for a duration of one year and, in any event, until the relevant tender specifications are approved.

On 18 February 2026, the resolution of Huelva Port Authority approving the PPP for the port service for the reception of waste generated by ships and cargo residues in the Port of Huelva was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).

Passenger service

With regard to the preparation of the planned passenger service tender documents, we can report that work is currently underway to update these. The OPPE (Puertos del Estado) has carried out a study analysing the activities and flows involved in the service, on the basis of which it has been determined that it would be advisable to review the current PPP model. At this stage, we are awaiting a new draft that will enable us to begin work on drawing up the new tender documents.

Cargo Handling Service

Once the model has been received from OPPE, work is due to begin on drafting the service’s regulatory tender documents, incorporating the provisions of European Union (EU) Regulation 2017/352 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

With regard to the tender specifications for the Goods Handling Service, we can report that the relevant study has been initiated at local level.

Ship Fuel Supply Service

Regarding the Fuel Supply Service, we can report that work is underway on the drafts received in mid-2025 from OPPE. Following the relevant analysis, progress is being made on the drafting of the following documents: the Specific Terms of Reference for the Service for the Supply to Ships of Conventional Petroleum-Derived Fuels, Biofuels and Synthetic Fuels, and the Specific Terms of Reference for the Service for the Supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Ships as Fuel. Furthermore, consideration is being given to the preparation of the Specific Terms and Conditions for the Supply of Electricity to Berthing Vessels.

III. Commercial Services

These are commercial activities that, whilst not classified as port services, are linked to port operations. In accordance with the applicable legal provisions, this type of service should be provided on a competitive basis, subject to authorisation by the Port Authority and in accordance with the relevant specific conditions.

At the Port of Huelva, numerous activities take place under this service provision model.

With regard to Commercial Services, note that various tender documents are being assessed, as well as the study of the drafts provided by the OPPE. Work is currently underway on a draft of the Specific Conditions for the provision of the Commercial Ship Consignment Service at the Port of Huelva, as well as on the Regulatory Ordinance for the Inland Traffic Service at the Port of Huelva.

IV. Maritime signalling service

This service is concerned with the installation, maintenance, control and inspection of visual, acoustic, electronic or radio-electronic devices, whether active or passive, intended to improve the safety of navigation and the movements of vessels in Spanish coastal waters and, where applicable, to confirm the position of vessels at sea.

The provision of this service by Huelva Port Authority is reflected in the geographical area assigned for this purpose¹.

The updated inventory of navigation aids can be consulted on the AtoN portal (https://portalaton.puertos.es/portalAton/app/seguridad/login.jsp), a web application managed by the Public Body Puertos del Estado.

Likewise, this link shows the buoyage area for water zones I and II of the Port of Huelva.

Number of companies operating in the port under concession, authorisation or licence (I_15)

Concessionary companies or those with authorisation for exclusive use of public land linked to the movement of goods, passenger transport, fishing, recreational boating or shipbuilding and repair

Port service providers operating in the port during 2025

Actual land area in commercial use (I_16)

The data shown in the table above refers to the land area designated for commercial use, both available for concession and under concession; however, the total land area of the Port of Huelva’s service zone is 17,841,824 m², with 5,246,600 m² estimated as fully available for concession, equivalent to approximately 29.41%. The remainder of the land is subject to urban planning and/or environmental restrictions or is used for general services (transport, green spaces, etc.). In 2025, the total area under concession was 4,211,624 m², of which 3,453,496 m² corresponded to land occupation.

Percentage of tonnes moved in concessionary or licensed maritime freight terminals (I_17)

In relation to total freight traffic, the figures corresponding to maritime freight terminals, whether under concession or authorised, are as follows: